The son of English parents, Thomas Bradley and Emily (Parkinson) Holliday, Fred Parkinson Holliday was born in Fitzroy, a suburb of Melbourne. He was educated in England at Brighton Grammar School and Brighton Technical College, where he studied electical and mechanical engineering. Having served three years in the Sussex Yeomanry, he moved to Canada before the war. When he enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on 23 September 1914, Holliday was 26 years old and stood 5 feet 8 inches tall. He sailed for England as a sapper with the 2nd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers. After surviving a chlorine gas attack on the Western front, Sapper Holliday was promoted to Temp. 2nd Lieutenant on 28 November 1915, before he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. The following month, he joined 4 Squadron as an observer and served with this unit until August 1916 before training to become a pilot. In 1917, Lieutenant Holliday was posted to France with 48 Squadron. Between April and July of that year, he and his observers scored seventeen victories flying the Bristol Fighter. In August 1917, he was returned to England where he assumed command of a Training Squadron at Gosport. On 8 January 1918, Temp. Captain Holliday was promoted to Flight Command with the rank of Temp. Major.
Post-war, Holliday was transferred to the unemployed list on 3 September 1919 and traveled to Sweden where he worked for the Swedish Electric Company. He returned to Canada in December 1923 and, during World War II, he served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. From August 1942 until January 1945, he served as commanding officer of No. 10 Repair Depot at Calgary, Alberta. He retired in 1945 with the rank of Group Captain. From April 1947 until his death in 1960, Fred Holliday was the president and managing director of Swedish Electric in Canada.

WO 339/50634

Attestation Front
Canada, Soldiers of the First World War, 1914-1918

Attestation Back
Canada, Soldiers of the First World War, 1914-1918

Military Cross (MC)

Temp. Lt. Fred Parkinson Holliday, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In company with another pilot he attacked five hostile aircraft, setting one on fire, driving down another out of control, and dispersing the remainder. He has previously done fine work, bringing down eight hostile machines in all.

T./Lt. Fred Parkinson Holliday, Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. By his initiative and skilful manoeuvring he led six hostile machines to an encounter with our own formation, during which five out of the six hostile machines were destroyed and driven down. He had been equally successful the day before in misleading hostile aircraft, and his originality and fearless example were of the greatest value to his squadron.